Street-marker.



T. WIGHT.

STREET MARKER.

APRLIoATIoN FILED APE. 18,1913.

1,1 141,834. Patented 0G13. 27, 1914.

W/TNESSES:

M @mr/U.

THOMAS WIGHT, 0F KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

STREET-MARKER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 27, 1914.

Application filed April 18, 1913. Serial No. 761,987.

T0 all 'whom fit may concern.'

Be it known that I, THOMAS WIGHT, a citizen of the United States,residing at Kansas City, in the county of Jackson and State of Missouri,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Street- Markers;and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures ofreference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to street markers, and more particularly to amarker which may be applied to a lamp post and is adapted forillumination from the same circuit or gas supply as the lamp on the postwith which it is used.

In its preferred form, the marker coinprises a box-like structure whichmay be projected through a slot to the interior of a post so that thebody of the marker may be hidden while its face is exposed, togetherwith a sheet metal face having letters cut therefrom, and a backgroundremovably mounted in the marker box, back of the stencil part, so thatit may be protected thereby.`

In the drawings wherein the preferred form of the invention `isillustrated, Figure I is an elevation of a lamp post equipped with amarker containing my improvements. Fig. II is an enlarged elevation of aportion of the post containing the marker.

,Fig III is a section on the line IIL-III,

Fig. II. Fig.IV is a horizontal section on the line IV--IV, Fig. II.Fig. V is a perspective view of the recessed part `ot the post, showing`the slot for receiving the upper box flange. Fig. VI is a detailperspective of the upper portion of the marker box.

Referring more in detail to the parts: 1 designates a lamp post of anysuitable hollow construction, designed to contain circuit wires 2 whichmay be extended there* through, and having an opening 3 therein forreceiving the marker hereinafter described. The marker proper comprisesaboX 4, which is preferably made up of U-shaped body portion 5 of sheetmetal, having outwardly turned edge flanges 6, and a front plate 7having rearwardly turned edge flanges 8 forming sockets 9 'for receivingthe outturned flanges 6 of the body meinber, the Ufshaped body beingconstructed to spring outwardly to a width greater than that of thefront plate so that when the sides are compressed the edge flanges maybe yieldingly projected into the sockets on the front plate, to hold theparts together. The front plate 7 is provided with openings to form thename of a street, and is backed by a removable, translucent sheet 10,preferably formed oi glass, which will form a background for thestcncilcd letters during the day and will transfuse light from themarker lamps through the stcncilcd letters at night, in order that themarker may be effective at all times.

In order to hold the plates 10 in place I provide the body member 5 withspring shoes 11 which are directed forwardly and are adapted toyieldingly clamp the translucent plate against the stcncilcd plate 7when the parts are assembled, but will yield readily to allow withdrawalof the translucent plate so that the latter may beeasily and quicklyreplaced if necessary.

In order to conveniently mount lamps in the marker box I provide thebody member 5 with spring clamps 12 to which the lamps 13 may beremovably applied. When the lamps are of an electrical type they areprovided with terminal wires 14 which are adapted for connection withthe main lamp marker and light therefrom shine through the stencilopenings in the marker plate to illuminate the plate and disclose thelettering therein.

In order to anchor the marker in the lamp post I provide the latter withan upper slot 15 and the upper edge of the front, or stencil plate 7,with a lip 1G which is adapted to fit into the post slot to hold theupper part of the box in place. To hold the lower part of the box in thepost opening I provide the plate 7 with a latch 17 havinga lip 18adapted to drop back of the lower edge ofthe post when the box is inplace, the front end of the latch being preferably provided with a head19 so that it may be manipulated easily with a proper tool, but may notbe turned by a mischievous person.

In order that the box may fit snugly into the post opening and yet swingfreely to and fromits seat I bevel the lower edge, as

at 20, so that the inner end may not strike the backing ot the openingwhen it pivots on the upper end.

ln using a marker of this construction, presuming the parts to beconstructed as described, with the stencil plate provided with lettersfor marking a street, and the body ot the box equipped with suitablelamps, the stencil plate is applied to the box by springing the sides ofthe box inwardly until its edge flanges may hook into the sockets at theedges ot the stencil plate, so that resiliency in the body l0 will holdthe parts together. With the body and stencil plate assembled in thismanner, atranslucent plate is slipped back of the stencil plate andbetween same and the spring shoes l1 so that the translucent plate isheld back of the letter openings in the stencil plate. With the parts soassembled, the terminal wires 13 ot the box lamps are connected with thecircuit wires in the post and the box applied to the post by projectingits upper end into the opening therein, with the lips 16 projected intothe post slot l5. The lower, beveled end of the box is then swung intoplace and the latch 18 turned to lock back of the lower edge et theslotted portion of the post so that the box is held firmly in position.l/Vith the parts so assembled, when current is turned on to illuminatethe post lamp,

current also flows through the marker lamp and light is transtusedthrough the stencil openings, thereby illuminating the letters anddisclosing the name of the street.

lt is quite apparent that by having the backing plate of a dii-ferentcolor than the stencil plate the letters are clearly distinguishable inthe daytime, or while the lamps are not in use, so that the marker isadapted for use either at night or in the daytime. lt is also apparentthat by having the backing plate protected by the stencil plate, asdescribed, the backing plate may be composed of glass, or frangiblematerial, as there is small likelihood of its being broken through itsstencil plate, but that it it should be broken it couldL be easily andquickly replaced at slight expense, as the letters are on the permanentstencil plate rather than on the frangile back. lt is also apparent thatby constructing the box as described, its parts may expand and contractwithout danger of breaking the rangible backing plate.

Having thus described my invention, what l claim as new therein, anddesire to secure by Letters-Patent, is,-

1. ln a street marker, a box comprising a body member having resilientsides provided with outturned edge flanges, a stencil plate having edgesockets adapted for receiving the box flanges, and means on said box forcarrying a lamp.

2. ln a street marker, a box compnising a U-shaped body having resilientsides provided with outturned edge lianges, a stencil plate having backturned edges forming sockets for receiving the box flanges, atranslucent plate removably mounted within the box and overlying theinner tace of said stencil plate, and shoes on said box frictionallyengaging the translucent plate, for the purpose set forth.

3. The combination with a post having an opening therein, ot a boxremovably located lwithin the post back of the opening, a charactermember removably mounted in the iront ot said box and covering theopening, and a lamp contained within the box.

l. rllhe combination with a post having a recess therein, of' a boxhaving a body portion adapted for projection into the recesses andcomprising a front plate having characters cut thereon` and a latch forremovably anchoring said box in the post.

5. The combination with a post having a recess therein and having a slotat the upper edge of said recess, of a street marker comprising a boxadapted for projection into the recess, and a plate having characterscut therein and having a lip on its upper edge for projection into saidslot, and a latch on the lower edge ot said plate adapted for lockingengagement with the lower edge ot the recessed portion ot' the post.

6. The combination with a hollow lamp post having an opening therein, ofa marker having a body member located within the post back of saidopening and containing a lamp, a plate on the front of said body memberhaving characters formed therein, and a translucent plate removablymounted in said post and bearing against the back of the characterplate.

ln testimony whereotl l aliix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS VlGHT. Witnesses:

ARTHUR W. CAPs, Linn E. Coeurs.

@oplet et thin patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Entente, Washington, D. G.

